Offige-door indicator



Patented May 2, |899.

0. W. WHALE o FFlcE n lum (Applicati n ed .Time 1'1, (No Model.)

A gil/venten UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR W. WHALEY, OF SWAN, IOWA.

OFFICE-DOOR INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 624,278, dated May 2, 1899.

' Application filed .Tune 11,1898. Serial No. 683,202. (No model To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR W. WHALEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swan, in the county of Marion and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Door-Indicator, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in door-indicators; and the object thereof is to provide an indicator which is automatically operated by the locking and unlocking of the door.

A further object is to provide an improved lock for the door and for operating the indicator.

With the above objects in view the invention consists of a slide upon which is placed a suitable inscription, a locking-bolt, an operative connection between said slide and bolt,a spring-actuated bolt-operating lever adapted to project said bolt, and a push-rod adapted to engage said lever and hold the bolt retracted,and when pressed inwardly adapted to release said lever and permit the bolt to be projected. l

The invention consists also in certain details ot' construction, which will be fully described in the application, particularly pointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical sectional view showing the position of rthe parts when the door is unlocked. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the position of the parts when the door is locked. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail View showing the opening in the door and the plates closing same. Fig. 4. is an enlarged sectional detail View showing the engagement of the push-rod with the bolt-operating lever. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the boltoperating lever. y

. Referring now more particularly to the accompanyin g drawings, A designates the lockcasing, in which is positioned an ordinary latch-bolt B, the same being constructed and operated as in the common form of lock.

C designates a locking-bolt provided on its lower edge with the usual opening D to receive the key whereby it may be retracted. Said locking-bolt is also provided in its upper edge with a notch or recess to receive the lower end of the bolt-operating lever E, which is pivoted at its upper end by a pin P, passing through the boss F, formed on said lever. Said lever is slotted intermediate its ends, whereby it is movable upon a guide-rod G, securedin the casing, and coiled about said rod is a spring H, which engages said lever and has a tendency to normally press the same outwardly, thus projecting the bolt. The push-rod I is movable transversely of the casing, the same being provided with hooked inner end J, which engages a lug K, formed on the bolt-operating lever, for the purpose of holding the bolt retracted. Said push-rod is formed on its outer end with a knob L and is held normally outwardly with the hooked end in engagement with the boltoperating lever by coil-spring M. When it is desired to lock the door,'the push-rod is pressed inwardly, disengaging its hooked end from the bolt and operating-lever, when said spring I-I will normally push said lever for- Wardly, thus projecting the bolt. The key is employed to retract the bolt, and when the latter has been moved inwardly within the casing the bolt-operating lever will be en gaged by the hooked end of, the push-rod and the bolt retained in its retracted position.

A lever N is intermediately pivoted in the lock-casing and at its lower end is formed with the slot O, receiving a pin P', carried by the inner end of the bolt. The opposite end of said arm is also slotted, as at Q, to receive a pin Rupon the innerend of a reciprocating arm S. This arm projects from the casing and -is movable through a box T, formed on the exterior of the casing, and in which anti friction-balls U are arranged, so that the move'- ment of said arm is facilitated and rendered easy.

An opening V is formed in the door, and covering said opening, on the exterior of the door, is a transparent plate W, adapted to slide in aframe W', secured to the door. Secured upon the interior of the door'is a frame X, in which a transparent plate X is mounted, said plate covering the opening and bearing thereon a suitable inscription, as Walk in, as illustrated in Figs. l and 2. Adapted to slide in said frame X back of plate X' is a transparent slide Y, to which arm S is connected. This plate slides upon suitable anti friction-balls Z,arranged in said frameX, and bears suitable inscriptions, as Out until 3 Patent, is

and Out of city, Will return, With spaces beneath to receive the date and hour of return. This s lide has an opaque portion a (indicated in dotted lines) which when said slide is moved in front of plate X covers the words Walk in.

From the above description the operation:

of the devices Will be apparent, the slide,with its inscription, being exposed when the door is locked and Withdrawn when it is unlocked. After the door has been locked the plate W may be removed and the hand inserted in the opening of the door to place upon the slidel l. vIn a lock the combination of a normallyprojected locking-bolt,means forholdin g same retracted, and a push-rod adapted to release said locking-bolt and permit the same to be projected, substantially as set forth.

2. In a lock the combination With the locking-bolt, of the operating-lever adapted to project the same, a spring for holding said locking-bolt projected, and a push-rod adapted to engage said operating-lever and hold the bolt retracted, and when operated to release said lever and permit the bolt to be projected, substantially as set forth.

3. In adoor-indicator, the combination with the door provided with an opening, oftransf parent plates arranged on the respective sides of said door, and covering said opening, one of the said plates adapted to bear a suitable inscription, and a transparent slide adapted to 'move back of said inscription having an opaque portion covering the same, and means for reciprocating said slide, substantially as set forth.

OSCAR WV. VVHALEY.

Witnesses XV. L. CAMP, M. F. HENRY. 

